Lost and found...

G

Gurthang

Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
44
OK. You're elk hunting with one partner in a remote area with no cell coverage. You only plan to return to 'civilization' every 3 or 4 days. You don't have any elk experience, but you've been reading up on things getting ready. You know the fastest way to get found is to be KNOWN to be missing or overdue.

My question is this: In an area that you have no friends near by, with whom do you leave your itinerary so they can send out the troops if needed? What tips do you guys have about keeping people up to speed on your status when you have no cell signal? I'm aware of S.P.O.T., any other ways?

Thanks
 
Well, I usually leave my info with my dad...chances are that if I disappeared he'd get his brother and between the two of them they'd probably be as well equipped to come find me as anyone.

In all seriousness he generally knows the places I'm going to at least in a general sense and would be able to describe my trip pretty effectively to any SAR people he talked to.
 
depends. There are VERY FEW people i would actually trust to know anything about me or my wilderness ways, and to be honest, the chance of them responding to my Flight Plan appropriately is slim to none. And that includes SAR/RCMP.

I tend to leave detailed info with a friend, with instructions to not initiate anything for 72+ hours after i;m overdue. This is because they know that I'm equipped for up to a week+ in the woods and that i have my own backup plans.
 
I would let someone back home know and leave your itinerary with them as well as numbers for the local (to where you are hunting) sheriffs office so that they can contact them when you don't make contact with them on time. Then when you leave your vehicle leave a map of where you will be hunting sitting upside down on the seat with a note. This will help SAR narrow down your last known area. Then use all of those great survival skills to help keep yourself alive until you are rescued.
 
It depends on where, if you were hunting on private land, I'd be in as much contact as I could with the owner, even if its just that they know where about your camp will be so SAR has a good starting reference. SPOT has been reviewed poorly from what I've seen, but a true PLB might be a good idea. The reason is that they are actually monitored and subject to standards, not like SPOT that might have a server crash. Having a GMRS/ ham radio might be a good idea for contact, if you can rig a large antenna, you can call out even with low power, and many areas have clubs to monitor pre-set "distress" freqs. that and some ham radios can patch calls into the phone system.
 
I have a Garmin Rino, and it has GMRS channels. I didn't know I could count on them in CO to reach far enough, and I didn't know any channel was monitored. I'll have to look into that for the area I'll be in. Thanks.
 
Munky said:
I would let someone back home know and leave your itinerary with them as well as numbers for the local (to where you are hunting) sheriffs office so that they can contact them when you don't make contact with them on time. Then when you leave your vehicle leave a map of where you will be hunting sitting upside down on the seat with a note. This will help SAR narrow down your last known area. Then use all of those great survival skills to help keep yourself alive until you are rescued.
Click to expand...

I like this idea very much! I leave my locations and itenerary (sp) with my wife who wouldnt do much good with it , but she can relate it to SAR if the need should arise.

I leave instructions to wait 24 hours before calling in the troops, maybe I can get myself out of trouble, or maybe my trip is just going over the estimated time, but maybe ive broken a leg and could really use the help! I should be able to not only survive, but keep myself rather comfortable and content for 24 hours, barring injury.
 
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there are some local clubs that monitor GMRS, but the range is pretty weak. I'd look into your local HAM club. way better range, and an interesting hobby. some digital HAM sets can also use the GMRS freqs but at much higher power. and you have the added benefit of being able to rig up a larger antenna.
I've used one satphone, I believe it was a globalstar. it sucked. I'm glad that I didn't need it for an actual rescue, as reception was brutal. luckily the sandwich warmer (cell booster) in the truck worked everywhere else we were working.
 
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